Star Wars_ Episode VI_ Return Of The Jedi Part 10

'Thanks, Threepio,' the young Jedi patted him gratefully on the shoulder.

Threepio, still a bit shaken, stood with a wobbly, amazed smile. 'Why - why - I didn't know I had it in me.'

The hut of Chief Chirpa was large, by Ewok standards - though Chewbacca, sitting cross-legged, nearly sc.r.a.ped the ceiling with his head. The Wookiee hunched along one side of the dwelling with his Rebel comrades, while the Chief and ten Elders sat on the other side facing them. In the center, between the two groups, a small fire warmed the night air, casting ephemeral shadows on the earthen walls.

Outside, the entire village awaited the decisions this council would arrive at. It was a pensive, clear night, charged with high moment. Though it was quite late, not an Ewok slept.

Inside, Threepio was speaking. Positive and negative feedback loops had already substantially increased his fluency in this squeaky language; he was now in the midst of an animated history of the Galactic Civil War - replete with pantomime, elocution, explosive sound effects, and editorial commentary. He even mimicked an Imperial Walker at one point.

The Ewok Elders listened carefully, occasionally murmuring comments to each other. It was a fascinating story, and they were thoroughly absorbed - at times, horrified; at times, outraged. Logray conferred with Chief Chirpa once or twice, and several times asked Threepio questions, to which the golden droid responded quite movingly - once Artoo even whistled, probably for emphasis.

In the end, though, after a rather brief discussion among the Elders, the Chief shook his head negatively, with an expression of rueful dissatisfaction. He spoke finally to Threepio, and Threepio interpreted for his friends.

'Chief Chirpa says it's a very moving story,' the droid explained. 'But it really has nothing to do with Ewoks.'

A deep and pressing silence filled the small chamber. Only the fire softly crackled its bright but darkling soliloquy.

It was finally Solo - of all people - who opened his mouth to speak for the group. For the Alliance.

'Tell them this, Goldenrod-' he smiled at the droid, with conscious affection for the first time. 'Tell them it's hard to translate a rebellion, so maybe a translator shouldn't tell the story. So I'll tell 'em.

'They shouldn't help us 'cause we're asking 'em to. They shouldn't even help us 'cause it's in their own interest to - even though it is, you know - just for one example, the Empire's tappin' a lot of energy out of this moon to generate its deflector s.h.i.+eld, and that's a lot of energy you guys are gonna be without come winter, and I mean you're gonna be hurtin' ... but never mind that. Tell 'em, Threepio.'

Threepio told them. Han went on.

'But that's not why they should help us. That's why I used to do stuff, because it was in my interest. But not anymore. Well, not so much, anyway. Mostly I do things for my friends, now - 'cause what else is so important? Money? Power? Jabba had that, and you know what happened to him. Okay, okay, the point is - your friends are ... your friends. You know?'

This was one of the most inarticulate pleas Leia had ever heard, but it made her eyes fill with tears. The Ewoks, on the other hand, remained silent, impa.s.sive. Teebo and the stoic little fellow named Paploo traded a few muttered words; the rest were motionless, their expressions unreadable.

After another protracted pause, Luke cleared his throat. 'I realize this concept may be abstract - may be difficult to draw these connections,' he started slowly, 'but it's terribly important for the entire galaxy, for our Rebel force to destroy the Imperial presence here on Endor. Look up, there, through the smoke hole in the roof. Just through that tiny hole, you can count a hundred stars. In the whole sky there are millions, and billions more you can't even see. And they all have planets, and moons, and happy people just like you. And the Empire is destroying all that. You can ... you could get dizzy just lying on your back and staring up at all the stars.h.i.+ne. You could almost ... explode, it's so beautiful sometimes. And you're part of the beauty, it's all part of the same Force. And the Empire is trying to turn out the lights.'

It took a while for Threepio to finish translating this - he wanted to get all the words just right. When he did eventually stop talking, there was an extensive squeaking among the Elders, rising and falling in volume, ceasing and then resuming again.

Leia knew what Luke was trying to say, but she feared greatly that the Ewoks wouldn't see the connection. It was connected intimately, though, if she could only bridge the gap for them. She thought of her experience in the forest earlier - her sense of oneness with the trees, whose outstretched limbs seemed to touch the very stars; the stars, whose light filtered down like cascading magic. She felt the power of the magic within her, and it resonated around the hut, from being to being, flowing through her again, making her stronger, still; until she felt one with these Ewoks, nearly - felt as if she understood them, knew them; conspired with them, in the primary sense of the word: they breathed together.

The debate wound down, leaving finally another quiet moment in the hut. Leia's respirations quieted, too, in resonance; and with an air of confident serenity, she made her appeal to the council.

'Do it because of the trees,' she said.

That's all she said. Everyone expected more, but there was no more; only this short, oblique outburst.

Wicket had been observing these proceedings with increasing concern, from the sidelines. On several occasions it was apparent he was restraining himself with great difficulty from entering the council's discourse - but now he jumped to his feet, paced the width of the hut several times, finally faced the Elders, and began his own impa.s.sioned speech.

'Eepeep, meep eek squee ..."

Threepio translated for his friends: 'Honorable Elders, we have this night received a perilous, wondrous gift. The gift of freedom. This golden G.o.d ...' - here Threepio paused in his translation just long enough to savor the moment; then went on - '... This golden G.o.d, whose return to us has been prophesied since the First Tree, tells us now he will not be our Master, tells us we are free to choose as we will - that we must choose; as all living things must choose their own destiny. He has come, Honorable Elders, and he will go; no longer may we be slaves to his divine guidance. We are free.

'Yet how must we comport ourselves? Is an Ewok's love of the wood any less because he can leave it? No - his love is more, because he can leave it, yet he stays. So is it with the voice of the Golden One: we can close our eyes; yet we listen.

'His friends tell us of a Force, a great living spirit, of which we are all part, even as the leaves are things separate yet part of the tree.

We know this spirit, Honorable Elders, though we call it not the Force. The friends of the Golden One tell us this Force is in great jeopardy, here and everywhere. When the fire reaches the forest, who is safe? Not even the Great Tree of which all things are part; nor its leaves, nor its roots, nor its birds. All are in peril, forever and ever.

'It is a brave thing to confront such a fire, Honorable Elders. Many will die, that the forest lives on.

'But the Ewoks are brave.'

The little bear-creature fixed his gaze on the others in the hut. Not a word was spoken; nonetheless, the communication was intense. After a minute like this, he concluded his statement.

'Honorable Elders, we must aid this n.o.ble party not less for the trees, but more for the sake of the leaves on the trees. These Rebels are like the Ewoks, who are like the leaves. Battered by the wind, eaten without thought by the tumult of locusts that inhabit the world - yet do we throw ourselves on smoldering fires, that another may know the warmth of light; yet do we make a soft bed of ourselves, that another may know rest; yet do we swirl in the wind that a.s.sails us, to send the fear of chaos into the hearts of our enemies; yet do we change color, even as the season calls upon us to change. So must we help our Leafbrothers, these Rebels - for so has come a season of change upon us.'

He stood, still, before them, the small fire dancing in his eye. For a timeless moment, all the world seemed still.

The Elders were moved. Without saying another word, they nodded in agreement. Perhaps they were telepathic.

In any case, Chief Chirpa stood and, without preface, made a brief p.r.o.nouncement.

All at once drums began to beat throughout the entire village. The Elders jumped up - no longer at all so serious - and ran across the tent to hug the Rebels. Teebo even began to hug Artoo, but thought better of it as the little droid backed off with a low warning whistle. Teebo scurried over to hop playfully on the Wookiee's back instead.

Han smiled uncertainly. 'What's going on?'

'I'm not sure,' Leia answered out the side of her mouth, 'But it doesn't look too bad.'

Luke, like the others, was sharing the joyous occasion - whatever it meant - with a pleasant smile and diffuse good will, when suddenly a dark cloud filled his heart, hovered there, nestled a clammy chill into the corners of his soul. He wiped its traces from his visage, made his face a mask. n.o.body noticed.

Threepio finally nodded his understanding to Wicket, who was explaining the situation to him. He turned, with an expansive gesture, to the Rebels. 'We are now part of the tribe.'

'Just what I've always wanted,' said Solo.

Threepio continued talking to the others, trying to ignore the sarcastic Star Captain. 'The Chief has vowed to help us in any way to rid their land of the evil ones.'

'Well, short help is better than no help, I always say,' Solo chuckled.

Threepio was once again rapidly overheating his circuits toward the Corellian ingrate. 'Teebo says his chief scouts, Wicket and Paploo, will show us the fastest way to the s.h.i.+eld generator.'

'Tell him thanks, Goldenrod.' He just loved irking Threepio. He couldn't help himself.

Chewie let out a righteous bark, happy to be on the move again. One of the Ewoks thought he was asking for food, though, and brought the Wookiee a large slab of meat. Chewbacca didn't refuse. He downed the meat in a single gulp, as several Ewoks gathered, watching in amazement. They were so incredulous at this feat, in fact, they began giggling furiously; and the laughter was so infectious, it started the Wookiee chortling. His gruff guffaws were really hilarious to the chuckling Ewoks, so - as was their custom - they jumped on him in a frenzy of tickling, which he returned threefold, until they all lay in a puddle, quite exhausted. Chewie wiped his eyes and grabbed another piece of meat, which he gnawed at a more leisurely pace.

Solo, meanwhile, began organizing the expedition. 'How far is it? We'll need some fresh supplies. There's not much time, you know. Give me some of that, Chewie Chewie snarled.

Luke drifted to the back of the hut and then slipped outside during the commotion. Out in the square, a great party was going on -dancing, squealing, tickling - but Luke avoided this, too. He wandered away from the bonfires, away from the gaiety, to a secluded walkway on the dark side of a colossal tree.

Leia followed him.

The sounds of the forest filled the soft night air, here. Crickets, skittering rodents, desolate breezes, anguished owls. The perfumes were a mixture of night-blooming jasmine, and pine; the harmonies were strictly ethereal. The sky was crystal black.

Luke stared at the brightest star in the heavens. It looked to be fired from deep within its core by raging elemental vapors. It was the Death Star.

He couldn't take his eyes from it. Leia found him like that.

'What's wrong?' she whispered.

He smiled wearily. 'Everything, I'm afraid. Or nothing, maybe. Maybe things are finally going to be as they were meant to be.'

He felt the presence of Darth Vader very near.

Leia took his hand. She felt so close to Luke, yet... she couldn't say how. He seemed so lost now, so alone. So distant. She almost couldn't feel his hand in hers. 'What is it, Luke?'

He looked down at their intertwined fingers. 'Leia ... do you remember your mother? Your real mother?'

The question took her totally by surprise. She'd always felt so close to her adopted parents, it was as if they were her real parents. She almost never thought of her real mother - that was like a dream.

Yet now Luke's question made her start. Flashes from her infancy a.s.saulted her - distorted visions of running ... a beautiful woman ... hiding in a trunk. The fragments suddenly threatened to flood her with emotion.

'Yes,' she said, pausing to regain her composure. 'Just a little bit. She died when I was very young.'

'What do you remember?' he pressed. 'Tell me.'

'Just feelings, really ... images.' She wanted to let it slide, it was so out of the blue, so far from her immediate concerns ... but somehow so loud inside, all of a sudden.

'Tell me,' Luke repeated.

She felt surprised by his insistence, but decided to follow him with it, at least for the time being. She trusted him, even when he frightened her. 'She was very beautiful,' Leia remembered aloud. 'Gentle and kind - but sad.' She looked deeply into his eyes, seeking his intentions. 'Why are you asking me this?'

He turned away, peering back up at the Death Star, as if he'd been on the verge of opening up; then something scared him, and he pulled it all in once more. 'I have no memory of my mother,' he claimed. 'I never knew her.'

'Luke, tell me what's troubling you.' She wanted to help, she knew she could help.

He stared at her a long moment, estimating her abilities, gauging her need to know, her desire to know. She was strong. He felt it, unwaveringly. He could depend on her. They all could. 'Vader is here ... now. On this moon.'

She felt a chill, like a physical sensation, as if her blood had actually congealed. 'How do you know?'

'I can feel his presence. He's come for me.'

'But how could he know we were here? Was it the code, did we leave out some pa.s.sword?' She knew it was none of these things.

'No, it's me. He can feel it when I'm near.' He held her by the shoulders. He wanted to tell her everything, but now as he tried, his will was starting to fail. 'I must leave you, Leia. As long as I'm here, I endanger the whole group and our mission here.' His hands trembled. 'I have to face Vader.'

Leia was fast becoming distraught, confused. Intimations were rus.h.i.+ng at her like wild owls out of the night, their wings brus.h.i.+ng her cheek, their talons catching her hair, their harsh whispers thrilling her ear: 'Who? Who? Who?'

She shook her head hard. 'I don't understand, Luke. What do you mean, you have to face Vader?'

He pulled her to him, his manner suddenly gentle; abidingly calm. To say it, just to say it, in some basic way released him. 'He's my father, Leia.'

'Your father!?' She couldn't believe it; yet of course it was true.

He held her steady, to be a rock for her. 'Leia, I've found something else out. It's not going to be easy for you to hear it, but you have to. You have to know before I leave here because I might not be back. And if I don't make it, you're the only hope for the Alliance.'

She looked away, she shook her head, she wouldn't look at him. It was terribly disturbing, what Luke was saying, though she couldn't imagine why. It was nonsense, of course; that was why. To call her the only hope for the Alliance if he should die - why, it was absurd. Absurd to think of Luke dying, and to think of her being the only hope.

Both thoughts were out of the question. She moved away from him, to deny his words; at least to give them distance, to let her breathe. Flashes of her mother came again, in this breathing s.p.a.ce. Parting embraces, flesh torn from flesh ...

'Don't talk that way, Luke. You have to survive. I do what I can - we all do - but I'm of no importance. Without you ... I can do nothing. It's you, Luke. I've seen it. You have a power I don't understand ... and could never have.'

'You're wrong, Leia.' He held her at arm's length. 'You have that power, too. The Force is strong in you. In time you'll learn to use it as I have.'

She shook her head. She couldn't hear this. He was lying. She had no power, the power was elsewhere, she could only help and succor and support. What was he saying? Was it possible?

He brought her closer still, held her face in his hands.

He looked so tender now, so giving. Was he giving her the power? Could she truly hold it? What was he saying? 'Luke, what's come over you?'

'Leia, the Force is strong in my family. My father has it, I have it, and ... my sister has it.'

Leia stared full into his eyes again. Darkness whirled there. And truth. What she saw frightened her... but now, this time, she didn't draw away. She stood close to him. She started to understand.

'Yes,' he whispered, seeing her comprehension. 'Yes. It's you, Leia.' He held her in his arms.

Leia closed her eyes tightly against his words, against her tears. To no avail. It all washed over her, now, and through her. 'I know,' she nodded. Openly she wept.

'Then you know I must go to him.'

She stood back, her face hot, her mind swimming in a storm. 'No, Luke, no. Run away, far away. If he can feel your presence, go away from this place.' She held his hands, put her cheek on his chest. 'I wish I could go with you.'

He stroked the back of her head. 'No, you don't. You've never faltered. When Han and I and the others have doubted, you've always been strong. You've never turned away from your responsibility. I can't say the same.' He thought of his premature flight from Dagobah, racing to risk everything before his training had been completed, almost destroying everything because of it. He looked down at the black, mechanical hand he had to show for it. How much more would be lost to his weakness? 'Well,' he choked, 'now we're both going to fulfill our destinies.'

'Luke, why? Why must you confront him?'

He thought of all the reasons - to win, to lose, to join, to struggle, to kill, to weep, to walk away, to accuse, to ask why, to forgive, to not forgive, to die - but knew, in the end, there was only one reason, now and always. Only one reason that could ever matter. 'There's good in him, I've felt it. He won't give me over to the Emperor. I can save him, I can turn him back to the good side.' His eyes became wild for just a moment, torn by doubts and pa.s.sions. 'I have to try, Leia. He's our father.'

They held each other close. Tears streamed silently down her face.

'Goodbye, dear sister-lost, and found. Goodbye, sweet, sweet Leia.'

She cried openly, now - they both did - as Luke held her away and moved slowly back along the planking. He disappeared into the darkness of the tree-cave that led out of the village.

Leia watched him go, quietly weeping. She gave free vent to her feelings, did not try to stop the tears - tried, instead, to feel them, to feel the source they came from, the path they took, the murky corners they cleansed.

Memories poured through her, now, clues, suspicions, half-heard mutterings when they'd thought she was asleep. Luke, her brother! And Vader, her father. This was too much to a.s.similate all at once, it was information overload.

She was crying and trembling and whimpering all at once, when suddenly Han stepped up and embraced her from behind. He'd gone looking for her, and heard her voice, and came around just in time to see Luke leaving - but only now, when Leia jumped at his touch and he turned her around, did he realize she was sobbing.

His quizzical smile turned to concern, tempered by the heart-fear of the would-be lover. 'Hey, what's going on here?'

She stifled her sobs, wiped her eyes. 'It's nothing, Han. I just want to be alone for a while.'

She was hiding something, that much was plain, and that much was unacceptable. 'It's not nothing!' he said angrily. 'I want to know what's going on. Now you tell me what it is.' He shook her. He'd never felt like this before. He wanted to know, but he didn't want to know what he thought he knew. It made him sick at heart to think of Leia ... with Luke ... he couldn't even bring himself to imagine what it was he didn't want to imagine.